Reasons why the Nazis gained popularity (1929-1932) Flashcards
Unhappiness from the Great Depression
1) People were unhappy with the harsh but necessary actions of the Weimar government .
2) Farmers began to support the Nazis due to subsidies and fixed crop prices and the middle class appreciated Hitler’s vague statement that he would ‘solve the economy’.
Fear of communism
1) Previously in the 1920s, most normal middle road Germans were happy with the Centre Party or the Social Democrats.
2) However, the rise of extremist political parties such as the KPD, made otherwise moderate Germans feel as if the Nazis with their SA were the only organization strong enough to prevent another communist revolution such as in 1917.
Hitler’s ‘friendly face’ and appeal to rich industrialists
1) Hitler was very sensitive in how he presented himself to the public in this period. He distanced himself from the violence of the SA and instead quietly spoke against violence to make a point to seem moderate to the conservative elite of Germany.
2) In January 1932 Hitler met many rich industrialists at the Dusseldorf Industry club to convince many of them to support the NSDAP as a pro-business political party.
3) He enlisted the support of key men such as Krupp, Thyssen, Faben, Voegler, and Hugenburg so that he would have funding for his election campaign of 1932 and onwards.
Propaganda and electioneering
Hitler and the NSDAP made full use of propaganda to help encourage support for the 1930 and November/July 1932 elections.
1) Posters emphasizing the failures of the Weimar government, the impacts of the Dawes and Youngs Plans, anti-Semitism and the dangers of communism
2) Rich industrialists Thyssen, Krupp, Faben, Voegler, and Hugenburg paid for the following in Hitler’s election campaign: a plane tour all around the country making patriotic speeches in the regions of Germany and paid for him to hire out radio time in Germany to spread his messages and key Nazi ideology.
